Govt Rolls Out Nationwide Farming Program to Train...

Govt Rolls Out Nationwide Farming Program to Train 35,000 Villages

Rutendo Mazhindu

Zim Now Reporter

Government has launched a nationwide program aimed at equipping farmers in 35 000 villages with essential skills to improve agricultural productivity, enhance food security, and strengthen climate resilience.

Professor Obert Jiri, Permanent Secretary for Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, and Rural Development, emphasized that empowering farmers with practical knowledge is vital to addressing sector challenges and ensuring sustainable growth.

"By training farmers, we are enabling them to adopt good agricultural practices, increase climate resilience, and improve their livelihoods," he said.

"The ministry is committed to ensuring that every citizen has access to adequate food, leaving no one and no place behind."

This initiative is set to transform rural agriculture by providing tailored support to farmers, boosting production, and ultimately reducing hunger and poverty.

Professor Jiri said that government has revitalised the sector by adopting farming techniques suited to local conditions to enhance yields and long-term sustainability.

Agriculture Minister Dr. Anxious Masuka also highlighted the importance of irrigation development, with government targeting 496,000 hectares for irrigation, although only 217,000 hectares have been developed so far. "We need to accelerate irrigation development.

There is a massive opportunity, and government aims to create an environment where the private sector can play a significant role," he said.

In addition to the irrigation efforts, government is also implementing programs like the Pfumvudza/Intwasa initiative, which integrates conservation agriculture and climate-smart farming techniques to boost productivity and resilience to environmental challenges.